Letters Sent to H.M. Armstrong, December 18, 1928

December 18th,1928. Mr. H. M. Armstrong, The Radium Extension Service, 185 N. Tabash Ave. , Chicago, Ill. Dear Mr. Arnstroag: Your letter of December 13th, together with clipping and photostatic copy has been received. In order to bring you up to date on the so called "Radium Poisoning" cases, it seens to me that I had better look back and briefly outline the history of this matter. The first case came to our attention in 1925, and we at that time had a survey made of the luninous material industry to ascertain whether or not there was any hazard existing. This survey was, in our opinion, very super- ficial, and did not cover the ground as thoroughly as we had anticip- ated. Conclusions were based on negative evidence only that there apparently was a hasard in this industry, and due to the fact that there was nothing else to ascribe it to we should look upon radium with suspicion. After this survey we engased other parties to make a more thorough and complete survey, and as their work progressed they were unable to agree with the conclusions dram by the first survey, and in our opinion it seeusd that their survey was based upon more genuine investigations than upon hearsay. For this reason we felt that while there was something about the entire satter which we did not understand, that radium VRS not necessarily to blame. Shortly after this second survey was completed there was a so called *Radiug case" in the New England states, which a man close to us had an opportunity to follow and study. This case was fatal, and while it was not definitely established that death was due to "Radium Poisoning" still it was reasonable to believe that it could have been a contribu- tory cause. After this case there were one or two other which appeared on the horizon. The history of the cases were very much the same - one has died and the other is still living. As you are aware, the five cases at issue were brought to our attention in June 1927, and from what data we were able to collect we were very nuch inclined to doubt that their condition could in any way be connected with their work while employed by us. Thäir side of the case was presented in court, and then settlement was effected, with the understanding that their condition would be studied by a Commission of medical men - one to be appointed by us, one by